Anger grows as visitors flock to Smith grave | The Independent Anger grows as visitors flock to Smith grave Iona/cemetery overwhelmed Saturday 3 June 1995 23:02 BST Click to follow The Independent Online ONE year after the former Labour leader John Smith was buried on Iona, the ancient Hebridean resting place of Scottish kings and clan chiefs, emotions over his grave site are running high. Crofters and fishermen are distressed that Mr Smith's tomb, which was completed last week when a headstone was laid, is attracting thousands of visitors who are "desecrating" the historic cemetery at Iona Abbey. Graves surrounding Mr Smith's have caved in and 13th-Century pathways have been destroyed as tourists flock to pay their respects to the much- loved politician. For many islanders, who opposed the decision to grant Mr Smith - a mainlander - a plot in a cemetery normally reserved for locals and their descendants, the grave has now become a symbol of upset. The visitors, they say, have damaged the revered site of Scotland's earliest Christian settlement. The trouble began last month as the first summer tourists walked ashore off the ferry from Mull and made straight for Mr Smith's grave.

Locals had hoped that one year after his death the number of political pilgrims would drop sharply. So many arrived last summer that Abbey managers were forced to fence off the grave and the adjoining plots to prevent damage. But their hopes proved forlorn. Last Monday, with up to 1,000 visitors arriving at the gates of the Reilig Odhrain cemetery each day, the barriers went up again. And this time the damage was even worse. Five graves next to Mr Smith's were collapsing and headstones had been trampled on. Pathways leading to the grave were cracked and bare. Although Argyll and Bute District Council has raised and returfed the sunken plots and begun to repair the paths, many of Iona's 100-strong community, who grudgingly accepted the council's decision to approve a request from Mr Smith's family for a burial site on the island, are now publicly voicing concern. Iain Dougall, a fisherman whose parents are buried five feet from John Smith, watches in horror as tourists tramp over their grave. "It is very frustrating and upsetting," he said. "Every day it is the same.

They get off their coaches and rush to the cemetery, ask where John Smith is buried and march across all the other graves to get there and take their photographs. "My parents were buried at the Abbey because they were island folk. But John Smith was an outsider. These visitors are destroying locals' graves as they try to pay their respects to a man who, by rights, should not be here. His grave has changed the atmosphere of this simple cemetery. Now that it has become an unofficial tourist attraction my parents can no longer rest in peace, and I and other relatives are suffering." Mary Hay, whose mother also lies alongside Mr Smith, said: "Most people on the island were against the burial plan at first but when it was approved they bit their tongues and accepted it. Now, with all the damage, they are asking: 'Why John Smith? Why should he be granted such an honour?' There are plenty of other people who have done more for Iona and come here more often but they have no chance of being buried here." Managers at the Abbey concede the large number of visitors poses a serious problem.

Crichton Lang, who runs the site for the Iona Abbey Trustees, said: "A lot of people who come are not interested in where Macbeth is buried, they only want to see John Smith. Visitors have been behaving quite appallingly - clambering all over the graveyard and standing on the headstones to get a better view. The damage is severe." Faced with ever-rising visitor numbers - more than 100,000 tourists travelled to Iona last year and there is no sign of a reduction - the trustees and Argyll and Bute councillors are considering plans to build paved pathways and permanent barriers around Mr Smith's grave and the adjoining plots, closing part of the ancient burial ground for the first time. Tom McKay, the council's director of environmental services, said: "Mr Smith would have hated to see the damage at an abbey he loved." But Evelyn MacPhail, 71,chairwoman of Iona Community Council, says that fences, paths and signs will further desecrate the graveyard, which is a protected national monument. "Islanders don't want any sort of barriers here," she said. However, Mrs MacPhail cannot see an alternative.

"With hindsight the decision to approve the burial was very unwise, a bad mistake. Now, it appears, we have to live with these awful consequences." John Smith's widow, Elizabeth, acknowledged islanders' concerns. Baroness Smith said: "I know people are upset and I am sorry about that. It was a wonderful thing when John was given the right to be buried on Iona. At that time no one could have foreseen the number of people who would visit. The damage to graves is a very sensitive subject, and I would urge all tourists to treat this sacred place with more respect." More about: Iona Abbey. Links Iona Abbey Iona Abbey, one of Scotland's most sacred sites and the symbolic centre of Scottish Christianity was the mausoleum of many of the early Scottish Kings . Situated on the Isle of Iona on the West Coast of Scotland, the abbey is one of the oldest and most important religious centres in Western Europe. The abbey was a focal point for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland and marks the foundation of a monastic community by St. Columba, when Iona formed part of the Kingdom of Dï¿½l Riata.

An inventory of 1549 recorded 48 kings buried there in total, from Kenneth MacAlpin to MacBeth , made famous by Shakespeare, and his victim, Duncan , all made their final journey there, across the sound to Iona, onto the harbour, and up the Street of the Dead to the burial ground. The tradition of royal burial at Iona was broken only twice, firstly by Constantine II , who was buried St Andrews and secondly by Malcolm Canmore who lies at Dunfermline. The last king to be buried on Iona was Malcolm III's brother, Donald Bane , before Malcolm's son, King Edgar , surrendered the island to Magnus, King of Norway in 1098 AD. There are also kings from Ireland, Norway and France, buried in the Reilig Odhrï¿½in, (Oran's "burial place), the graveyard beside Srï¿½id nam Marbh, 'the street of the dead', one of the finest medieval paved roads in Europe, extending from Martyr’s Bay to the abbey. The island is also the final resting place of various Lords of the Isles and other prominent members of West Highland clans, including several early MacLeod chiefs.

Saint Baithin and Saint Failbhe may also be buried on Iona. The inscriptions are said to have worn away by the end of the seventeenth century, early Christian and medieval monuments have been removed for preservation to the cloister arcade of the Abbey, and the Abbey museum (in the medieval infirmary). Recently the tradition was revived, and when the Labour leader, John Smith, a regular visitor to the island, was buried there. Several high crosses are located on the Isle of Iona, including St Martin's Cross, which dates back to the eighth century, the finest of Iona's Celtic high crosses, it is remarkably complete, adorned with a Pictish serpent-and-boss decoration on one side and holy figures on the other. A replica of St John's Cross is situated by the doorway of the Abbey. The restored original stands in the Infirmary Museum at the rear of the abbey. The carvings on St. Martin's Cross are badly weathered, but the figurative scenes can be identified as the Virgin and Child, Daniel in the lions' den, Abraham and Isaac, David with musicians, and an uncertain scene that may depict Samuel about to anoint David.

St Columba (Calum Cille), sailed to Iona from Ireland in 563 with twelve companions, in a hide-covered boat, landing at the south end of the island, then known as the Isle of Druids. He founded the monastery which was to become a centre for the spread of Christianity among the Picts and Scots. The original monastery contained a timber church, surrounded by huts for the monks to live and work in, and small cells for prayer. Columba was a useful asset to the Gaelic warrior kings. His monastery provided a place of education for their sons, he was a close advisor to the king, and he served as a diplomat to the king's neighbours in Pictland and Ireland. Columba died on the 9th June 597 and is said to have been buried below the small, stone chapel shrine, which is attached to the front of the abbey. Columba's tombstone was made from the stone on which he is said to have rested his head as he slept. A stone called 'St Columba's Pillow' was unearthed in 1870 by a crofter. The stone can now be seen in the Abbey museum.

The influence of Columba's monastery continued to grow, leading to the foundation of new monasteries in Ireland and as far away as Lindisfarne in Northumbria. In Pictland, Columban monks began to spread the word of Christianity in the seventh century. Pilgrimage to Iona increased, the kings of Scotland wished to be buried near to Columba, and a network of Celtic high crosses and processional routes developed around his shrine. The scriptorium of the abbey produced several highly important documents. At its zenith the abbey produced the Book of Kells, a famous illuminated manuscript, described in the Annals of Ulster in 1007 as 'the most precious object in the western world', was written by the monks of Iona in the years leading up to 800.A.D. A masterpiece of Dark Age European art, the elaborately illuminated book containing the four Gospels was taken from Iona to Kells in Ireland and is now housed in Trinity College, Dublin. The Chronicle of Ireland was also produced at Iona.

The massacre of 68 monks in 806 in a Viking attack on Martyrs' Bay led Columba's monks to return to Ireland, others of the monks from Iona fled to the Continent, and established Monasteries in Belgium, France, and Switzerland. In 825, St Blathmac and those monks who had returned with him to Iona, were slain by a further Viking raid, and the Abbey burned. St. Blathmac suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Vikings for refusing to divulge the treasures and relics of Columba. In 849 AD Columba's relics were removed from Iona and divided between Scotland and Ireland. The parts of the relics which went to Ireland are reputed to be buried in Downpatrick, County Down. The Monymusk Reliquary , from around 750 AD, probably contained a relic of St Columba and was preserved at Monymusk House. The small casket is house shaped and decorated by an Insular fusion of Gaelic and Pictish design and Anglo-Saxon metalworking.

The silver plates on the front and lid of the casket are decorated with beasts leaping and twisting, and biting at their tails on a spotted field, characteristic of Celtic art style. It became a powerful symbol of nationhood, and was carried before the Scots army as it marched into war. This reliquary is thought to be the Brechbennoch which was carried by the Scots at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the Celtic name Brec-bennoch has been translated in Gaelic as both 'the blessed shrine' or 'the speckled, peaked one'. The reliquary is now housed in the National Museum of Scotland. The abbey was probably not deserted. Its continued importance is revealed by the death there in 980 of Amlaï¿½b Cuarï¿½n, a retired King of Dublin. Iona was taken by the King of Norway, who held it for fifty years before Somerled 'King of the Hebrides' retook the island, Somerled's son Raghnall, 'Lord of the Isles', invited the Benedictine order to establish a new Monastery in 1203.

Building work then began on the new Abbey church, which occupied the site of Columba's original church. An early Augustinian Nunnery was established south of the Abbey buildings. Somerled's sister, Bethag, was its first prioress. It was known as Eaglais Dhubh or the black church because of the of nuns' robes. The Nunnery buildings were rebuilt in the fifteenth century, but fell into disrepair after the Reformation. The Abbey church was substantially expanded in the fifteenth century, but following the Scottish Reformation, Iona was abandoned. The abbey church was restored at the beginning of the twentieth century. Little remains of Columba's original monastery, however traces of the vallum, or ditch, that surrounded the monastic enclosure, are still visible. The oldest part of the abbey is the restored St Oran's Chapel, which lies to the south of the abbey, which was probably built by the Gaelic warlord Somerled, 'King of the Isles', as a family burial chapel, prior to his death in 1164. The building is plain and unadorned except for its eleventh century Norman doorway, decorated with chevron carvings.

The small building known as St Columba's Shrine is situated just outside the abbey church. It is mostly a restoration of 1962, but the lower courses may date from the mid-700s, when St Columba's relics were buried there in 597. Iona Abbey is now in the care of Historic Scotland, the abbey's museum is housed in a restored building that may once have been the monks' infirmary. On display are some of the best late-medieval West Highland graveslabs. Among the warrior effigies is that commemorating Gilbride MacKinnon (died c.1280), who is depicted in armour. His shield is carved with the Hebridean birlinn (galley) and, beneath it, an otter pursuing a fish. Displayed around the cloister walls are 29 West Highland graveslabs. Most were brought indoors from Reilig ï¿½dhrain for their better preservation after the restoration in 1958-9.

In 1858, the Duke of Argyll had rearranged them in two rows within iron railings - 'the ridge of the kings', and 'the ridge of the chiefs'. They commemorate the clan chiefs, 'the best men of the Isles' - among them MacKinnons, MacLeans and MacLeods. St. Oran's Cemetery, Isle of Iona - TripAdvisor Want the lowest hotel prices? You're in the right place. We check 200+ sites for you. St. Oran's Cemetery, Isle of Iona 5-star Hotels in Isle of Iona 4-star Hotels in Isle of Iona Does this attraction provide visitors with a taste of the local culture? Yes Is this attraction exciting, unusual, or risky to visit? Yes Is this attraction pet friendly? Yes Would this be a good cold day activity? Yes Is this an outdoor attraction or activity? Yes Is this attraction popular with locals? Yes Is this attraction wheelchair accessible? Yes Do you find this attraction suitable for young children? Yes Do you find this attraction suitable for families? Yes Is this attraction accessible using public transportation? Yes Map updates are paused. Zoom in to see updated info.

Reset zoom Description: Some of the biggest names in Scottish royalty have been buried here since... Some of the biggest names in Scottish royalty have been buried here since Scotland's earliest days. read more Terrible “Graveyards are cool” Walk in the shadow of great men and women of faith. It is a must see as you visit Iona and the monastery. I loved the solemnity and solitude. Reviewed November 24, 2016 51 Reviews from our TripAdvisor Community Which Isle of Iona hotels are on sale? mm/dd/yyyy mm/dd/yyyy Sponsored links * Read reviews that mention: All reviews buried here burial place labour party john smith burial ground iona abbey short visit scottish kings small chapel worth a visit leader macbeth inscriptions mp shakespeare preserve followers lords death legend Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Start your review of St. Oran's Cemetery Click to rate “Graveyards are cool” Reviewed November 24, 2016 Walk in the shadow of great men and women of faith. It is a must see as you visit Iona and the monastery. I loved the solemnity and solitude. Helpful?

“Cemetery of Kings” Reviewed October 14, 2016 The cemetery is known as Relig Odhrain. Named after one of St Columba's followers, Odhrain or Oran, who according to the legend volunteered to be buried alive as a sacrifice to prevent the walls of the first church built here from falling down. What concerned me was that around 30 of the most important grave markers and carved stones have... More Helpful? “Worth a Visit” Reviewed September 14, 2016 This cemetery is reputed to be the burial location for many of the kings of Norway and Scotland, including Macbeth. Whether or not this is true or not, it is certainly interesting and historical. St. Oran's chapel is also located here and both are free. Helpful? Reviewed September 7, 2016 via mobile Always interesting to wander through and admire the history of what is buried here. So refreshing to see that cemeteries are respected. There was a plaque describing some of the notable people buried here that also explained just how violent some of the clans were in times gone by. Takes about 5-10minutes to wander through. Helpful?

“Great History” Reviewed August 30, 2016 After visiting you fully appreciate the location and desire for people to be buried here. The gravestones indicate in detail the history of Iona. Helpful? “Said to be the burial place of Macbeth- no signs of” Reviewed August 24, 2016 This cemetery is the final resting place of the Labour leader John Smith. It offers a historical perspective of Iona Abbey and is said to be the burial place of many nobles. It is still in use. Some of the head stones are of interest from a human story point of view. The chapel has some fine old grave stone... More Helpful? “Fascinating burial place” Reviewed July 30, 2016 The last resting place of kings, many of the older gravestones from here have been placed in the Iona Abbey museum, but lots of interesting ones still remain. John Smith, former leader of the Labour Party, is buried here, and people have marked his grave with pebbles. Helpful? “Incredibly historical place” Reviewed July 29, 2016 The cemetery is situated right beside the reconstructed Abbey of St.

Colm Cille, but is free to the public. It has been a burial ground since at least 600ad, and it is said that many kings, warriors and various important people are interred there. A fascinating place, and nice, if unusual, place for a picnic. Helpful? “Many of the impressive memorial stones are now displayed at the Abbey museum” Reviewed July 21, 2016 The burial ground, Reilig Odhrain, was consecrated at the time St Columba founded the influential Iona Abbey around AD 563 and whilst legend has it that early Scottish Kings are buried here, up to and including MacBeth of Shakespeare fame, this cannot be confirmed. What is certain is the reference to the Kings of The Isles (or the Lords of... More Helpful? Scotlanders | Mull Through A Lens - The Scots Magazine Places Scotlanders | Mull Through A Lens Dougie Baird takes a weekend jaunt to Mull and Iona to find the best photography stops Thanks for giving me the opportunity to tell you all about my trip to two special Scottish Islands. My wife and I decided to return to the Isle of Mull and take a day trip from there to the magical island of Iona.

We booked the Mishnish hotel right on the front in Tobermory, which I will tell you about later in this blog – but first our breaks starts, as always, with the journey… We always take our time because travel in Scotland is all about the scenery – mountains, Lochs and cool places to stop for lunch. We left early Friday morning. The weather was not perfect but hey it’s only April, and Loch Lomond was still as stunning as ever. I always say if you can see the Ben [Ben Lomond] from the road then the weather’s going to be fine! Our first stop was Tyndrum at the famous Green Welly Stop . Here the road splits with one going to Fort William and ours to Oban. There is another scenic route to the port via Inverary but we took the fastest. Oban is the “Gateway to the Isles”, because of its extensive connections to the Inner Hebrides and beyong, and it is here that we were sailing from. Please note that you must be at the Oban ferry terminal at least 30 minutes before departure, and if you’re taking a car make sure you book a ticket in advance.

Ferry Photography The Oban to Mull crossing is one of my favourite journeys. It takes just under a hour so the first place I head to is the promenade decks. Here you can capture your best images. First you should look to the shore at the back to see the whole of Oban laid out – wonderful views. Look out for McCaig’s Folly – but then again, you can’t really miss it! It was commissioned in 1897 by John Stuart McCaig to provide work for the local stonemasons during the winter months. After taken your shots of Oban and the Folly, face forward for views of the Isle of Kerra. On a good day you can see Ben More on Mull. On Kerra there is a monument to David Hutcheson – famous for founding the company now called Caledonian MacBrayne , or CalMac. Next up is the Isle of Lismore and the Eilean Musdile Lighthouse. The next landmark is Duart Castle. If you get the angle right you can get some great pics of the castle with Mull`s mountains in the back ground. Soon you see your port at Craignure.

Once docked you leave the ferry and on to Isle of Mull. When on Mull we travelled straight to our hotel in Tobermory. Mishnish Hotel on the harbour is a great base for a weekend exploring the island, and with fab food and drink, too. Now, about the roads… Our plans were to have the afternoon in Iona, and spend the morning getting there via the scenic route along the north coast of the Island. Please be careful when driving on these single track roads, though – we had a wee fright and fell down in to a ditch! There were no injuries, thankfully, and no bother getting back on the road. Quick check of the car and on we go. Never a dull moment. The next challenge we encountered was a herd of friendly cattle – who would not move. It was really funny trying to shoo them off the road. I think they thought we were as strange as them. One good thing about driving slowly to avoid ditches and cattle is the passenger gets a good chance to spot wildlife out the window. The last time we were here we spotted the White Tailed Sea Eagle, and this time it was deer and the buzzard you see in the picture. Common buzzards are formidable predators.

These hunters feast on rabbits and small mammals. They have powerful talons, and nearly always make their kill on the ground. While driving this road do stop at the Sandy beach at Calgary bay. It’s a lovely place with fab sea air and beautiful views – ideal for a coffee stop on the north side of Mull. The Silver Sands of Iona Round a bend and the first views of the Iona open up in front of us as we drive down to Fionnphort (pronounced fin-a-fort) for our short sail over to the magical island. We see white sandy beaches in front of us – and the world famous Abbey. First stop on the wee isle was to the Argyll Hotel for lunch, which was exactly what was needed before the highlight of our weekend: Iona Abbey. Little remains of the building first founded by St Columba in 563; it has changed hands many times with extensions added on over the years. We enjoyed a walk through the magnificent building, learning about its history. The abbey was a focal point for the spread of Christianity and there is evidence the Book of Kells was written here before being moved to the Abbey of Kells.

Don’t leave Iona Abbey without taking a look in the burial ground. It is said that 48 ancient Scottish kings are buried in the graveyard, and the late great Labour leader John Smith was buried here in 1994. After the Abbey we had a pleasant walk through the village, with Martyrs Bay Bar as our next watering hole. You can sit outside here and watch the ferry going back and forward across the stunning views. We keep our eye out for the ferry docking and had another smooth crossing back to Mull. Once back on Mull we drive through the mountains. This road dissect the island from west to east, and makes for a lovely journey through the changing scenery then back along the coast to our base in Tobermory. The Local Nightlife After a quick clean up we popped downstairs for dinner. The Mishnish Hotel’s restaurant is called the Mishdish, which always gets a wry chuckle from visitors. The food is fab, too, with a menu full of fresh seafood and local produce – delicious. That night there was a disco on, and although we felt a bit old we had fun anyway! It was a pleasure meeting up with a couple from Sydney, who were here to celebrate the husband’s 60th birthday.

The keen golfer was heading to St Andrews next, which was a dream come true for him. Mrs Baird had the great pleasure in telling our new friends about her hole-in-one at the famous Old Course. They were quite amazed until I told them it was the putting green. We had fun at the Mishnish – full of friendly locals and tourists keen to impart their knowledge of the hidden treasures on the island. After a great Scottish breakfast at the fantastic Mishnish Hotel we say our goodbyes and we head off down to Caignure for our ferry back to Oban and home. Mull it’s been a blast. Read more from Scotlanders Corner on Wednesday, May 18. Author BBC - Scotland's History - Iona Scotland's History Scotland's History Articles Iona Iona The island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland, is the symbolic centre of Scottish Christianity. Through 1400 years of history its fortunes have fluctuated, from its heights as one of the greatest centres of learning in Dark Age Europe, to its lows as a crumbling ruin.

However, thanks to the fame of its monastic founder, St Columba, the island has always been revered as a holy place, and, over the centuries, Iona has continually been re-invented and reconstructed as a centre for pilgrimage. Iona's fame began in 563 AD when Columba, with thirteen followers, landed at the south end of the island, at St Columba's Bay, to establish a monastery. The Adobe Flash player and Javascript are required in order to view a video which appears on this page. You may wish to download the Adobe Flash player . The great abbey we see today belongs to a later era. Columba's Iona was very different. Columba had little interest in grand buildings - he was seeking seclusion among the 'desert' of the Atlantic Ocean. Almost nothing remains of his original monastery however traces of the vallum, or ditch, that surrounded the monastic enclosure, can still be seen. Inside would have been a settlement that resembled a small village - a modest, timber church, surrounded by huts for the monks to live and work in, and small cells to provide the solitude necessary for prayer.

These cells, or chambers, used for prayer, are also found on the nearby islands of Canna and Eileach Naoimh, and certain islands off the coast of Ireland such as Skellig Michael. From Adomnán, who wrote Columba's biography 100 years after his death, we know a great deal about the early monastery's daily life. Withdrawn, contemplative and austere, its primary purpose was the contemplation of God through prayer and learning. Holy texts from around Europe were copied, poetry flourished and Adomnán himself wrote a guide to the Holy land - a fact which illustrates that the monastery's intellectual horizons stretched right across Christendom. As a consequence Iona amassed one of the greatest libraries in Western Europe and became a powerhouse of Dark Age learning. Columba died on the 9th June 597 AD. Adomnán writes that his final day was spent copying a psalter, on the Torr An Alba (the Hill of Scotland): the rock which stands in front of the Abbey today.

He urged his successor as abbot to take up his work, then went to the church, dying in prayer before the altar with a final gesture of blessing on his monks. He is believed to have been buried below the small, stone chapel shrine, which is attached to the front of the abbey. It was around this building, or an earlier version of it, that the cult of Columba developed. Columba's monastery became a centre of pilgrimage. At first, access was restricted to high status pilgrims: royal and ecclesiastical visitors, or those in serious trouble, who stayed at its guest house, but later more humble pilgrims would have been allowed access to the monastery. The pilgrims travelled to Iona in life and in death. Many of the kings of Scotland, Ireland, and even of the Vikings, were buried there. Some of the most famous Kings of Alba, from Kenneth MacAlpin to MacBeth, made their final journey there - across the sound to Iona, onto the harbour, and up the Street of the Dead to the burial ground, the Relig Oran.

This royal tradition was only broken twice whilst The Western Isles stayed a part of the Kingdom of Alba - once by Constantine mac Aed ( buried St Andrews) and again by Malcolm Canmore (buried at Dunfermline). The last king to be interred on Iona was Malcolm's brother, Donald Bane, before Malcolm's son, Edgar, surrendered the island to Magnus, King of Norway, after he subdued the isles to his will in 1098 AD. Recently the tradition was revived, and Iona was again the centre of national mourning when the Labour leader, John Smith, was buried there. Wealthy pilgrims brought money to the monastery, and in the 8th century some of the finest Dark Age works of art were created to glorify Columba. The Book of Kells, now held in Trintity College Dublin, was crafted on Iona, along with the celtic high crosses from the 8th and 9th centuries - dedicated to St Martin, St Odhrain, St John and St Matthew. The crosses are of exquisite celtic design and were given by wealthy patrons to promote the Cult of Columba.

In 794 AD Iona experienced the first of many Viking raids that eventually forced the monastery into decline. As one historian has commented: rich monasteries like Iona were the Dark Age equivalent of drive-in banks to the Vikings. The Adobe Flash player and Javascript are required in order to view a video which appears on this page. You may wish to download the Adobe Flash player . In 806 AD, a total of 68 monks were slain by the Vikings at Martyrs Bay, just south of the Ferry landing. By 825 AD the monastery, thanks to its exposed position, was virtually abandoned. St Blathmac refused to leave, and suffered martyrdom at the hands of Vikings for refusing to divulge the treasures and relics of Columba. In 849 AD Columba's relics were removed and divided two ways between Scotland and Ireland. Iona may have been abandoned, but in the 10th century its power was revived after the vikings converted to Christianity and intermarried with the local Gaelic populace. New building works began, such as St Oran's Chapel, beside The Road of the Dead; and Margaret, Queen of Alba, made donations to promote the Cult of Columba.

In 1200 AD, Raghnall, son of Somerled, virtual King of the Isles, brought in the Benedictine Order and built the great abbey. He also established St Ronan's Nunnery, named after one of Iona's monks, which accomodated up to 400 Augustinian nuns - the ruins of this building still stand within the village. Raghnall's sister, Bethag, was instated as St Ronan's first prioress. The importation of Reformed Monastic Orders, like the Benedictines, to the heart of Columban monasticism wasn't without controversy. The Bishop of Derry attacked the building works, but Raghnall prevailed and the abbey was completed. The Benedictines revitalised the Columban cult on Iona until the Reformation when the abbey was abandoned and slowly fell into ruin. For just under 400 years the settlement lay in ruins until, in 1938, the Iona Community, a Ecumenical Christian group, was founded there by the Rev George MacLeod. Committed to finding the relevance of the Gospel, they set about restoring the ruined abbey. More articles St.

Oran's Cemetery, Iona - TripAdvisor New! Find and book your ideal hotel on TripAdvisor — and get the lowest prices St. Oran's Cemetery, Iona Does this attraction provide visitors with a taste of the local culture? Yes Is this attraction exciting, unusual, or risky to visit? Yes Is this attraction pet friendly? Yes Would this be a good cold day activity? Yes Is this an outdoor attraction or activity? Yes Is this attraction popular with locals? Yes Is this attraction wheelchair accessible? Yes Do you find this attraction suitable for young children? Yes Do you find this attraction suitable for families? Yes Is this attraction accessible using public transportation? Yes Map updates are paused. Zoom in to see updated info. Reset zoom Description: Some of the biggest names in Scottish royalty have been buried here since... Some of the biggest names in Scottish royalty have been buried here since Scotland's earliest days. read more Terrible “Graveyards are cool” Walk in the shadow of great men and women of faith. It is a must see as you visit Iona and the monastery. I loved the solemnity and solitude. Reviewed 24 November 2016 51 Reviews from our TripAdvisor Community Which Iona hotels are on sale?

dd/mm/yyyy dd/mm/yyyy Sponsored links * Read reviews that mention: All reviews buried here burial place labour party john smith burial ground iona abbey local islanders short visit scottish kings small chapel worth a visit leader macbeth inscriptions mp shakespeare preserve followers lords death Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Start your review of St. Oran's Cemetery Click to rate “Graveyards are cool” Reviewed 24 November 2016 Walk in the shadow of great men and women of faith. It is a must see as you visit Iona and the monastery. I loved the solemnity and solitude. Helpful? “Cemetery of Kings” Reviewed 14 October 2016 The cemetery is known as Relig Odhrain. Named after one of St Columba's followers, Odhrain or Oran, who according to the legend volunteered to be buried alive as a sacrifice to prevent the walls of the first church built here from falling down. What concerned me was that around 30 of the most important grave markers and carved stones have... More Helpful?

“Worth a Visit” Reviewed 14 September 2016 This cemetery is reputed to be the burial location for many of the kings of Norway and Scotland, including Macbeth. Whether or not this is true or not, it is certainly interesting and historical. St. Oran's chapel is also located here and both are free. Helpful? Reviewed 7 September 2016 via mobile Always interesting to wander through and admire the history of what is buried here. So refreshing to see that cemeteries are respected. There was a plaque describing some of the notable people buried here that also explained just how violent some of the clans were in times gone by. Takes about 5-10minutes to wander through. Helpful? “Great History” Reviewed 30 August 2016 After visiting you fully appreciate the location and desire for people to be buried here. The gravestones indicate in detail the history of Iona. Helpful? “Said to be the burial place of Macbeth- no signs of” Reviewed 24 August 2016 This cemetery is the final resting place of the Labour leader John Smith.

It offers a historical perspective of Iona Abbey and is said to be the burial place of many nobles. It is still in use. Some of the head stones are of interest from a human story point of view. The chapel has some fine old grave stone... More Helpful? “Fascinating burial place” Reviewed 30 July 2016 The last resting place of kings, many of the older gravestones from here have been placed in the Iona Abbey museum, but lots of interesting ones still remain. John Smith, former leader of the Labour Party, is buried here, and people have marked his grave with pebbles. Helpful? “Incredibly historical place” Reviewed 29 July 2016 The cemetery is situated right beside the reconstructed Abbey of St. Colm Cille, but is free to the public. It has been a burial ground since at least 600ad, and it is said that many kings, warriors and various important people are interred there. A fascinating place, and nice, if unusual, place for a picnic. Helpful?

“Many of the impressive memorial stones are now displayed at the Abbey museum” Reviewed 21 July 2016 The burial ground, Reilig Odhrain, was consecrated at the time St Columba founded the influential Iona Abbey around AD 563 and whilst legend has it that early Scottish Kings are buried here, up to and including MacBeth of Shakespeare fame, this cannot be confirmed. What is certain is the reference to the Kings of The Isles (or the Lords of... More Helpful? Iona | Flickr Back to albums list Iona Iona (Scottish Gaelic: Ì Chaluim Chille) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Gaelic monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats. Its modern Gaelic name means "Iona of (Saint) Columba" (formerly anglicised "Icolmkill"). Iona Abbey, now an ecumenical church, is of particular historical and religious interest to pilgrims and visitors alike.

It is the most elaborate and best-preserved ecclesiastical building surviving from the Middle Ages in the Western Isles of Scotland. Though modest in scale in comparison to medieval abbeys elsewhere in Western Europe, it has a wealth of fine architectural detail, and monuments of many periods. The 8th Duke of Argyll presented the sacred buildings and sites of the island to the Iona Cathedral trust in 1899. In front of the Abbey stands the 9th century St Martin's Cross, one of the best-preserved Celtic crosses in the British Isles, and a replica of the 8th century St John's Cross (original fragments in the Abbey museum). The ancient burial ground, called the Rèilig Odhrain (Eng: Oran's "burial place" or "cemetery"), contains the 12th century chapel of St Odhrán (said to be Columba's uncle), restored at the same time as the Abbey itself. It contains a number of medieval grave monuments. The abbey graveyard contains the graves of many early Scottish Kings, as well as kings from Ireland, Norway and France. Iona became the burial site for the kings of Dál Riata and their successors.

Notable burials there include: Cináed mac Ailpín, king of the Picts (also known today as "Kenneth I of Scotland") Domnall mac Causantín, alternatively "king of the Picts" or "king of Alba" (i.e. Scotland; known as "Donald II") Máel Coluim mac Domnaill, king of Scotland ("Malcolm I") Donnchad mac Crínáin, king of Scotland ("Duncan I") Mac Bethad mac Findlaích, king of Scotland ("Macbeth") Domnall mac Donnchada, king of Scotland ("Domnall Bán" or "Donald III") John Smith, Labour Party Leader Acknowledgements to Wikipedia for the text. Show more Burial ground close to Iona Abbey - Review of St. Oran's Cemetery, Isle of Iona, Scotland - TripAdvisor “Burial ground close to Iona Abbey” Reviewed May 18, 2015 We visited the cemetery on our way to the Abbey as we knew that John Smith (the Labour Leader from the 1990s) was buried here, along with many of the great and the good of Scotland.

In the centre of the graves is St Oran's Chapel and the view over the sea is wonderful. Visited May 2015 Smith to be buried alongside Scotland's kings | The Independent Smith to be buried alongside Scotland's kings Tuesday 17 May 1994 23:02 BST Click to follow The Independent Online JOHN SMITH will be buried this weekend on the Hebridean island of Iona, ancient resting place of Scottish kings and Lords of the Isles. Burial on the island is a rare honour. Usually, only islanders and their descendants are interred at the site of Scotland's earliest Christian settlement, where St Columba landed in 563 to found a monastery that became the centre of Celtic Christianity. Argyll and Bute District Council met yesterday and agreed to a request from the late Labour leader's family for a plot in Reilig Odhrain cemetery 'as a mark of respect for a great man from Argyll'. Mr Smith grew up in Ardrishaig, Argyllshire, about 30 miles from Iona. He and his wife, Elizabeth, used to spend summer holidays on the island.

Iona, one mile long and with a population of about 100, is best known as the burial ground of the Celtic kings, whose coffins were carried across the water from the mainland by boat. The remains of Macbeth are said to lie near the 13th- century abbey. For centuries a focus for pilgrims, the island is now the home of an ecumenical community. After a funeral service in Edinburgh on Friday, attended by the Prime Minister and dignitaries from around the world, Mr Smith's coffin will be carried by ferry to Mull and on to Iona, where he will be buried in a private ceremony. The Rev George Munro, who led prayers for Mr Smith last Sunday and will conduct Friday's service in Cluny parish church, said yesterday: 'Mrs Smith requested that John be buried on Iona. He loved the island, which is a magical, sacred place and I am sure it would be his wish to be laid to rest there.' Mr Munro said he hoped Friday's 'simple, straightforward' service would 'bring comfort and hope' to the family.

It would, he said, be 'more of a thanksgiving than a memorial for the life of a man who brought so much to the people of Edinburgh, of Scotland and of Britain. John was one of us and there is nothing wrong with saying how very proud we are of who he was and what he gave.' The service will be relayed by loudspeaker to thousands of people who are expected to gather outside the church. More about: St. Oran's Cemetery (Iona, Scotland): Address, Attraction Reviews - TripAdvisor St. Oran's Cemetery Does this attraction provide visitors with a taste of the local culture? Yes Is this attraction exciting, unusual, or risky to visit? Yes Is this attraction pet friendly? Yes Would this be a good cold day activity? Yes Is this an outdoor attraction or activity? Yes Is this attraction popular with locals? Yes Is this attraction wheelchair accessible? Yes Do you find this attraction suitable for young children? Yes Do you find this attraction suitable for families? Yes Is this attraction accessible using public transportation? Yes Map updates are paused. Zoom in to see updated info. Reset zoom Description: Some of the biggest names in Scottish royalty have been buried here since...

Some of the biggest names in Scottish royalty have been buried here since Scotland's earliest days. read more Terrible “Graveyards are cool” Walk in the shadow of great men and women of faith. It is a must see as you visit Iona and the monastery. I loved the solemnity and solitude. Reviewed 24 November 2016 51 Reviews from our TripAdvisor Community Which Iona hotels are on sale? dd/mm/yyyy dd/mm/yyyy Sponsored links * Read reviews that mention: All reviews buried here burial place labour party john smith burial ground iona abbey short visit scottish kings small chapel worth a visit leader macbeth inscriptions mp shakespeare preserve followers lords death legend Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Start your review of St. Oran's Cemetery Click to rate “Graveyards are cool” Reviewed 24 November 2016 Walk in the shadow of great men and women of faith. It is a must see as you visit Iona and the monastery. I loved the solemnity and solitude. Helpful? “Cemetery of Kings” Reviewed 14 October 2016 The cemetery is known as Relig Odhrain.

Named after one of St Columba's followers, Odhrain or Oran, who according to the legend volunteered to be buried alive as a sacrifice to prevent the walls of the first church built here from falling down. What concerned me was that around 30 of the most important grave markers and carved stones have... More Helpful? “Worth a Visit” Reviewed 14 September 2016 This cemetery is reputed to be the burial location for many of the kings of Norway and Scotland, including Macbeth. Whether or not this is true or not, it is certainly interesting and historical. St. Oran's chapel is also located here and both are free. Helpful? Reviewed 7 September 2016 via mobile Always interesting to wander through and admire the history of what is buried here. So refreshing to see that cemeteries are respected. There was a plaque describing some of the notable people buried here that also explained just how violent some of the clans were in times gone by. Takes about 5-10minutes to wander through. Helpful? “Great History” Reviewed 30 August 2016 After visiting you fully appreciate the location and desire for people to be buried here.

The gravestones indicate in detail the history of Iona. Helpful? “Said to be the burial place of Macbeth- no signs of” Reviewed 24 August 2016 This cemetery is the final resting place of the Labour leader John Smith. It offers a historical perspective of Iona Abbey and is said to be the burial place of many nobles. It is still in use. Some of the head stones are of interest from a human story point of view. The chapel has some fine old grave stone... More Helpful? “Fascinating burial place” Reviewed 30 July 2016 The last resting place of kings, many of the older gravestones from here have been placed in the Iona Abbey museum, but lots of interesting ones still remain. John Smith, former leader of the Labour Party, is buried here, and people have marked his grave with pebbles. Helpful? “Incredibly historical place” Reviewed 29 July 2016 The cemetery is situated right beside the reconstructed Abbey of St. Colm Cille, but is free to the public.

It has been a burial ground since at least 600ad, and it is said that many kings, warriors and various important people are interred there. A fascinating place, and nice, if unusual, place for a picnic. Helpful? “Many of the impressive memorial stones are now displayed at the Abbey museum” Reviewed 21 July 2016 The burial ground, Reilig Odhrain, was consecrated at the time St Columba founded the influential Iona Abbey around AD 563 and whilst legend has it that early Scottish Kings are buried here, up to and including MacBeth of Shakespeare fame, this cannot be confirmed. What is certain is the reference to the Kings of The Isles (or the Lords of... More Helpful?

Question: Which island is the burial place of many Scottish kings and Labour leader John Smith?
Answer: IONA